Oral Q and A

Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, MP – To ask the Hon. Minister of Plantation Industries 05th December 2011(a) Will he state –(i) the present annual production of natural rubber; and(ii) the present annual latex yield of rubber plantation in Sri Lanka?

(b) Will he also state -(i) the global production of natural rubber;(ii) the market share of Sri Lanka in global natural rubber market;(iii) the names of the other countries producing natural rubber; and(iv) the yield per hectare and total annual production of rubber in those countries’ separately? (c) Will he inform –(i) Whether any action has been taken to reschedule the local rubber cultivation aiming a high yield; and(ii) The quantity of natural rubber expected to be produced in Sri Lanka for the year 2017, 2022, 2027 and 2030, respectively?(d) If not, why?

(a) Q Will he inform this House as to when India officially gave up their claim on Kachchativu Island?

A Kachchativu was not given or ceded to Sri Lanka. Therefore, the question of India officially giving up her claim on Kachchativu does not arise. During the negotiations between India and Sri Lanka of the 1974 Maritime Boundary Agreement on the Historic Waters in the Palk Bay and Palk Straits, Sri Lanka established its claim to sovereignty over Kachchativu based on historical records since 1665 belonging to the Dutch East India Company and the British Colonial Government. Based on official correspondence, maps and specific legislation made by Ceylon in respect of the Island, Sri Lanka was able to establish through evidence, the regular exercise of administrative control over the Island as well. Accordingly, the 1974 Agreement formally confirmed Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over the Island.

The Indian position on the matter was conveyed most recently on 26th August 2011 by the Minister of External Affairs of India in a Statement in the Lok Sabha (The House of the People or the Lower House of the Indian Parliament), as follows:

Quote I wish to bring to the attention of the august House that our fishermen have access to visit the Island for rest, for drying of nets and for the annual St. Anthony’s Festival, and that the rights do not cover fishing around Kachchativu Island.We will have to also bear in mind the fact that as per the Agreements we have concluded with Sri Lanka in 1974 and 1976, Kachchativu Island lies on the Sri Lankan side of the Maritime boundary. These Agreements were laid before the Parliament. Therefore, as far as the Government of India is concerned, the issue of Maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka, and consequently, that of sovereignty over Kachchativu Island is a settled matter.Unquote

(b) Q Will he table the agreement signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and India on the rights of Kachchativu Islands?

A Copies of the 1974 Agreement and 1976 Agreement are attached as Annex – I and II respectively.(c) (i) Q As to why various claims are made by Indian political personalities trying to revive Indian claim of Kachachativu Islands?

A I am unable to speculate on the reasons for statements by others.

(ii) Q Whether the Minister has spoken with Indian counterpart on this matter?

A The 1974 and 1976 Agreements have clearly and conclusively established the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka. Therefore, the matter has never been raised by the Indian Government or by the Sri Lanka Government.

(d) Q Will be also state whether Sri Lankan Government insist that India stands by the previous agreement of handing over Kachchativu Islands to Sri Lanka and they have no claim to such an Island which Sri Lanka legislatively and historically owned?

A The question does not arise since, as far as the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of India are concerned, the issue of the Maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka, and consequently, that of sovereignty over Kachchativu Island is a settled matter.

(e) Q If not, why? A The question does not arise as explained at (d) above.

Oral Question Answers -29th Nov 2011

AnswersHon. Ravi Karunanayake: To ask the Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade;

(a) (i) Shown in Annexure No.1(ii) Specially, vegetables those are not produced in locally are imported for the purpose of tourist hotel industry. Importers are motivated to import vegetables and fruits in the circumstances of reducing local production due to climate changes and reducing world market price compared to the local market price.

(iii) Shown in Annexure No.11(iv) Shown in Annexure No.11

(v) It is reported that 5,289 kg tomatoes were imported to the country with less than of local market price from India with approval of Indian Agrarian Ministry during the month of April, 2011.

a) Will he state-(i) The number of Police Stations in the country at present; and(ii) The number of Police Stations required to provide a service covering the whole country;

b) Will he also state –(i) the number of Policemen in service as at 1st July 2011;(ii) the actual number of Policemen, required;(iii) the ethnic recruitment policy of the Sri Lanka Police;(iv) the number of Police Personnel in the service representing then ethnic groups of Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, and Malay separately; and(v) The breakup of the Police Personnel based on their speaking skill of Sinhala, Tamil and English languages?

c) If not, why?

Answers(a) (i) Four hundred and thirty (430).(ii) When establishing a Police Station, there are no specific parameters. Police Station should be established by the Minister of Defence and Urban Development on recommendation of the Inspector General of Police as per the Departmental regulation B 09, after considering the requests or proposals made by the Higher Rank Police Officers, Civil Administrative Officers and Public Representatives in that area. In the case of commencement of a new Police Station in a particular area, number of the crimes reported, population growth, emergence of new colonies and the importance of the geological positioning should be considered.

(b) i. Eight there thousand four hundred and twenty three (83, 423)ii. Ninety two thousand twenty three (92, 023)iii. All the recruitment will be carried out according to the regulations made by the Inspector General of Police, as per the approval of Director General of Institutions and the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development, on requirements and vacancies at the Department of Police, as well as the recruitments are not made according to the ethnicity.

v. In the case of recruiting the Police Officers, those who are able to speak Tamil and Sinhala, are being recruited to the Police as per the ethnicity. After the basic training, in service training is given to petroleum the duties in Tamil and English. Based on the ethnicity and the requirements of the service, aforesaid trained officers are transferred.

(c) Not relevant.

Oral Question Answers - No.1390-11 on 25th Nov 2011 Inbox

Tuesday, 06 December 2011 05:32

Parliamentary Question No.1390/11 Reply is expected on 25th November 2011

(a) (i) Year 2010 • Building of the Ministry of Petroleum Industries - Rs.10,500,000.00(a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

• Building of the Deputy Minister’s Office - Rs.585,684.00 (a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

Year 2011 (Up to 31st October 2011)• Building of the Ministry of Petroleum Industries - Rs 8,750,000.00(a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

• Building of the Deputy Minister’s Office - Rs.488,070.00 (a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

(ii) Year 2010 (The rate per square feet)• Building of the Ministry of Petroleum Industries - Rs 100.59(a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

• Building of the Deputy Minister’s Office - Rs.49.50 (a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

Year 2010 (The rate per square feet)

• Building of the Ministry of Petroleum Industries - Rs 100.59(a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

• Building of the Deputy Minister’s Office - Rs.49.50 (a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)(III) Building of the Ministry of Petroleum Industries - from 01.01.2010 to 31.12.2011 (a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)• Building of the Deputy Minister’s Office - No time duration(a building belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)

Question for oral answers – 24th November 2011 – 1402/’11

Hon Ravi Karunanayake – To ask the Prime Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs.a) Is he aware that the families of Army, Navy and Air Force Personnel with three children have been given benefits by the budget for year 2011?

b) Will he inform this House –(i) of the number of families benefited by the scheme in the budget as per mentioned in (a);(ii) the names of the aforesaid benefited families on per district and electorate basis; and(iii) the total value of the scheme?

c) Will he state separately the number and the names of security personnel received houses on free as it was promised, on per district and electorate basis?d) Will he also state the benefits given to the forces personnel who are unable to raise their first and second child?e) If not, why?

Answers(a) Yes.

(b) i. 2079ii. Benefits have been provided for the 1250 families in Army, 329 families in Navy and 500 families in Air Force, as well as it is expected to produce particulars in details, regarding the aforesaid families, within a month.iii. Two hundred and seven million (207 million).

(c) It is expected to produce the aforesaid details to the Parliament within a month, as it takes a considerable time period to obtain and arrange the relevant particulars.(d) A requisition as such has not been produced yet, by any personnel who are engaged in Security Service.(e) Not relevant.

Oral Question Answer Hon Ravi Karunanaya​ke 0723-10 On 20th Oct 11

Tuesday, 06 December 2011 05:24

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS – QUESTION NO.0723/10

(a) (i) Will he state whether H.E. the President has presided a meeting of the Export Council at least once a year, as per the provisions of the Sri Lanka Export Development Act;

In the recent past it has not been possible to conduct the meetings of the Export Development Council of Ministers. However, a process has already set in place to convene the meetings of the Council in the future in consultation with His Excellency the President, who is required to chair the Meetings. (II) Will he state the relevant parties that the government export policies are made;The policy related issues in the export sector are being discussed at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and also at the product specific Advisory Committees appointed under the provisions of the Sri Lanka Export Development Act and recommendations are made to the Government. (iii) As to when such policy making was last done? Such recommendations were submitted to the Budget 2011.(b) (i) The names of the companies and the amount of money allocated to them under Section 13 of Sri Lanka Export Development Act, in the years 2009 and 2010 separately on per year basis and per entity basis;

Names of companies and the amount money paid to them in the years 2009 and 2010: